Submitted by [deleted] t3_xxa73t in askscience
cloudwalker0909 t1_irbldt0 wrote
Histamine in the brain is an excitatory neurotransmitter (it has inhibitory effects on certain neurons but is overall excitatory) and is generally wakefulness promoting. Antihistamines that cross the blood brain barrier in sufficient quantities cause sedation through the antagonism of histamine receptors in the brain.
isblueacolor t1_irchxay wrote
Notably, there is a new narcolepsy medication called Wakix that works by acting on histamine receptors in the brain to increase wakefulness.
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